Bob Dylan's Gospel Years Illuminated In Latest "Bootleg Series"

Newly-unearthed recordings shine a light on one of the most mysterious, yet prolific, eras of Dylan's career

Nate Hertweck

GRAMMYs

Sep 20, 2017 - 6:16 pm

For fans of Bob Dylan's deeper catalog, the often overlooked period in his career when he became a "born again" Christian, 1979-1981, is also one of his most compelling times as an artist. Much more of his output from this era is soon to be uncovered, thanks to the latest installment of Dylan's ongoing Bootleg Series.

Trouble No More – The Bootleg Series Vol. 13 / 1979-1981 lands in the hands of Dylan disciples on Nov. 3, available as a two-CD set or a deluxe eight-CD set plus a DVD with previously unreleased footage.

As we revealed last month, this release comes in concert with a new documentary film about this era in Dylan's career and a new book by Dylan scholar Clinton Heylin, which also focuses on these "gospel years." According to Rolling Stone, Heylin said, "the set demonstrates, that, in fact, this was probably second only to the great creative burst in the mid-1960s in terms of the amount of material he was writing and the quality of the material he was writing."

Heylin's upcoming book, adventurously entitled Trouble In Mind: Bob Dylan's Gospel Years: What Really Happened, hopes to clarify some misconceptions about this era. It hits shelves Nov. 14 and is available for pre-order now.

So what are the recordings on the new Bootleg series that will provide this window into Dylan's mysterious yet complete transition into Christianity in his gospel years? Evidently, the three albums he recorded during this era, Slow Train Coming, Saved and Shot Of Love represent only a small portion of what Dylan wrote and recorded in that time. Trouble No More ... contains 14 unreleased songs performed in rehearsal or on stage, plus a slew of live material with some of the best musicians to ever accompany Dylan onstage in Spooner Oldham (keyboards), Jim Keltner (drums) and Tim Drummond (bass).

Needless to say, fans of any Dylan era are in for an enlightening treat.

Explore Bob Dylan's "Born Again" Era In New Film, Book and Box Set

The New York Film Festival will premiere a new concert film while a book and box set also hit shelves this fall.

Nate Hertweck

GRAMMYs

Aug 29, 2017 - 10:41 am

This fall, a few new gems will be unearthed for fans of Bob Dylan's deep catalog.

Watch highlights: Bob Dylan MusiCares tribute

The New York Film Festival will premiere a Dylan concert film featuring performances from the GRAMMY-winners late 1979-1981 "born again" era. The film, directed by Jennifer Lebeau, is entitled Trouble No More, and includes performances from Toronto and Buffalo at the tail end of Dylan's 1979-'80 tour, as well as select sermons read by actor Michael Shannon and written by writer/critic Luc Sante, according to Pitchfork. The New York Film Festival runs from Sept. 28 to Oct. 15.

Dylan's "born again" era is also the subject of a new book by Dylan biographer Clinton Heylin. Trouble In Mind: Bob Dylan's Gospel Years – What Really Happened breaks down the three albums during this period: Slow Train Coming, Saved, and Shot Of Love. Heylin's latest delve into Dylan's career a hits shelves Nov. 14, and will coincide with the release of a new Sony Bootleg box set, also due out in November.

Bob Dylan's Handwritten Lyrics For "Like A Rolling Stone" Up For Auction

A keepsake of the song Dylan himself called "the best I wrote" back in 1965 will soon belong to the highest bidder

Nate Hertweck

GRAMMYs

Sep 27, 2017 - 1:39 pm

"Like A Rolling Stone" remains Bob Dylan's most recognizable and enduring song, 52 years after it was recorded. Now for the right price, you can own the lyrics, handwritten and singed by Dylan himself.

A recent draft of the song's lyrics will be auctioned off via Nate D. Sanders Auctions starting Sept. 27 with a starting bid of $125,000. Last time one of Dylan's handwritten lyric sheets for the song was auctioned off, it sold for $2.05 million back in 2014.

These high numbers are slightly less shocking considering "Like A Rolling Stone" came in at No. 1 on Rolling Stone's "greatest song of all-time" list, and that Dylan himself called it, "the best song I wrote," back in 1965. Collectors will also have the opportunity to bid on a signed copy of Blonde On Blonde, starting at the more modest price of $5,000.

Bob Dylan Back On The Road This Fall With U.S. Tour

GRAMMY-winning legend hits the road again with 21 dates across the country in October and November

Nate Hertweck

GRAMMYs

Sep 11, 2017 - 11:19 am

Forever the road warrior, Bob Dylan announced 21 dates of a U.S. tour this fall. This latest string of shows follows the summer stint of his "Never Ending Tour" that wrapped in July.

Watch highlights: Bob Dylan MusiCares tribute

The tour will take Dylan from California to the East Coast in October and November, and will feature fellow GRAMMY-winner Mavis Staples as the opener for the final 19 shows. Highlights of the new dates include the inaugural concert at DePaul's brand-new arena on October 27 in Chicago, Staples' hometown, as well as back-to-back shows in Salt Lake City October 17 and 18 to kick off Staples' run as opener.

Dylan released his 38th studio album, Triplicate, earlier this year, and with this latest tour announcement shows no signs of the slowing his devotion to the road.

A full list of tour dates can be found on Dylan's website. Tickets for the first two shows are on sale now, with the rest of the dates set to go on sale September 15.

Bob Dylan Launches New Line Of Whiskeys Called Heaven's Door

The GRAMMY winner teams up with Angel's Envy to introduce three new whiskeys named after one of Dylan's most lasting songs

Nate Hertweck

GRAMMYs

Apr 30, 2018 - 8:32 am

Songwriting icon Bob Dylan now has his own signature line of whiskeys called Heaven's Door, named after his classic 1973 song "Knockin' On Heaven's Door."

Dylan partnered with bourbon makers Angel's Envy to offer three small batch whiskeys, including a straight rye, a double barrel whiskey and a Tennessee bourbon.

"We both wanted to create a collection of American whiskeys that, in their own way, tell a story," Dylan said in a statement to The New York Times. "I've been traveling for decades, and I've been able to try some of the best spirits that the world of whiskey has to offer. This is great whiskey."

The article also reveals that Angel's Envy founder Marc Bushala approached Dylan with the idea, and Dylan laid out a flavor profile for each whiskey.

"Dylan has these qualities that actually work well for a whiskey," Bushala said. "He has great authenticity. He is a quintessential American. He does things the way he wants to do them. I think these are good attributes for a super-premium whiskey as well."

Heaven's Door's initial run is available now as a limited-edition "Bootleg Series" at the whiskey label's website and at liquor stores in select states. The brand also plans to open a distillery in Nashville in 2019.

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